Jackfruit Pudding

It's Ramadan and muslims around the world are fasting. The beauty is even if someone doesn't follow their everyday prayers (which is considered the second pillar of the faith) they will fast the entire month.

This month is literally meant to experience the thirst and hunger of the less fortunate so we will be ready to giveaway our share of charity (the third pillar of the faith) at the end of the month.

It teaches us how to be patient, control your cravings which is not limited to food and water and get a glimpse of the poor and needy. The prayer and fasting if observed with faith makes you feel so close to God and the experiences are indescribable, all praise to Him.

When it comes to food, you don't feel like cooking at all but at the end of the day the spread in front of you when you are to break the fast is so much.

One of the most welcome dishes during iftar is a cold pudding made of china grass aka agar-agar. It's believed to cool down your body.

This is one of a kind jackfruit pudding inspired from the pineapple pudding recipe from a fellow blogger.

INGREDIENTS:

Makes 8 servings 

2 Cups milk (2% or whole)

1 Tin condensed milk 

3/4 Cup heavy cream 

10 grams agar-agar (china grass) strands/sheets

11/2 Cups water

1 Tblsp chia seeds 

11/2 Tsp vanilla essence 

For Fruit:

2 Cups jackfruit cubed

1/2 Cup water

1/2 Cup sugar

4 Cardamom pods

METHOD:

Cut the jackfruit into small cubes.Its better to poach the fruit because jackfruits are a bit harder whether fresh or canned. So cook the fruit with 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar and the cardamom. Bring the mix to a boil and cook on medium flame for about five mins. Remove the cardamom pods.

Cut the agar into small pieces and soak in 11/2 cups water in a sauce pan for 10 mins. You can skip this step but in helps the agar to dissolve completely when cooking, without traces. Heat the pan under medium flame and cook until the agar is completely dissolved in water.

Make sure to keep it warm and simmer until ready to be used because agar may solidify at room temperature.

In another pan, mix together condensed milk and milk. Heat this too in medium flame keep whisking to avoid the condensed milk from burning at the bottom of the pan. Once they are hot enough add the cream, mix together and switch off the flame.

Now add the agar to this milk mixture, vanilla essence, chia seeds and jackfruit.

Give a quick whisk and pour into desired cups or 8" tray (cut into shapes once set), leave it in the refrigerator until set and chill for about 2 hours.